Romario doping ban gets lifted on appeal

Former Brazil striker Romario overturned a 120-day ban yesterday when an appeal tribunal accepted his case that he failed a dope test because of a hair loss treatment.

The 1994 World Cup winner tested positive for the banned masking agent finasteride after playing for Vasco da Gama against Palmeiras.

The ban came just weeks from his scheduled retirement as a player and on the eve of his appointment as Vasco coach. Romario carried out his coaching duties from behind the scenes but resigned after just five games, alleging that Vasco president Eurico Miranda was interfering in team selection.

Romario told a disciplinary appeal tribunal he had used hair treatments containing finasteride for more than a decade, but never failed a dope test.